In the NBA realm, when someone gets caught in a mischievous act, the backlash that follows is usually harsh and relentless - and that's precisely what Chauncey Billups is going through right now.
The Portland Trail Blazers coach and former Finals MVP has found himself at the center of a major scandal after being arrested in connection with a gambling case, which even involves the "mafia." Moreover, reports claim that Billups tipped off his circle of gamblers with the availability of players before those names even appeared on the official injury report.
Amid all this chaos, Hassan Whiteside is the latest to chime in on the matter, claiming that the only reason he did not get another chance to prove himself in Portland, despite putting up respectable big man numbers, was because of Billups and his supposed gambling habits.
According to the government officials, the now-caught gambling ring used advanced technological tools like rigged card-shuffling machines and X-ray scanners on unsuspecting patrons to manipulate outcomes. In this process, Billups, along with former NBA player Damon Jones, allegedly used their names to attract high-profile gamblers into the scheme.
White, on the other hand, used this controversy as an opportunity to voice his own grievances. He pointed out that during the 2019-20 season, he averaged a double-double of 15.5 points and 13.5 rebounds, along with a league-leading 2.9 blocks, over 67 appearances for the Blazers in the regular season. Yet, when the campaign came to an end, the franchise did not retain him.
Now, with new and concerning reports coming out, Whiteside has become certain that it was only because of Billups, who was soon to be taking over as the head coach, and ultimately, with him proving to be a "hindrance" in the latter's betting ideologies, the seven-foot center wasn't given much consideration.
"Now I understand why he didn't want to re-sign me to the Blazers when he became the coach, " Whiteside wrote in the comment section of a post. " I was averaging 18 points, 14 rebounds, and 3 blocks, leading the league."
While Whiteside seems to be enjoying the latest fiasco in the NBA, there's a catch. Billups did not even become the Trail Blazers' head coach until the 2021-22 season. So, when Whiteside was allowed to walk away to join the Sacramento Kings , Terry Stotts was still the man in charge.
So, in reality, Hassan's claims don't exactly add up. On the contrary, given Whiteside's playful and sarcastic personality, it is entirely possible he was joking or using humor to insert himself into a trending story rather than making a serious accusation.
That being said, the situation surrounding Billups is no laughing matter. With serious allegations against him, his career and reputation are hanging by a thread. From being an NBA Finals MVP and one of the league's most respected floor generals to being responsible for transforming the Trail Blazers into a championship contender yet again in the Dame Time 2.0 era, he is now facing charges tied to gambling misconduct; the fall from grace could be devastating.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
